Our Correspondent
Imphal, Dec. 21 (EMN): Manipur government will provide Chief Ministergi Hakshel-gi Tengbang (CMHT), a state health card to all the Accredited Social Health Activists (Asha), Anganwadi workers and helpers in the state.
CMHT which was launched in January 2018 provides medical cover up to INR 2 lakh per family per year for seven critical diseases and up to INR 50,000 for primary and secondary ailments.
The step was taken as recognition of their contribution and service during the crucial period of the Covid-19 pandemic, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said on Tuesday.
Around 25,000 Ashas, Anganwadi workers and Anganwadi helpers would be benefited under the scheme.
Chief Minister, Biren Singh announced this at the launching function of ‘IT-enabled Mega Convergence of Health-Nutrition-Education’ on Tuesday in the presence of ministers, MLAs, senior officials, Asha, Anganwadi workers and helpers.
He also announced that the honorariums of Asha and Anganwadi workers would be increased by INR 1000 each and INR 500 for Anganwadi helpers.
A total 2600 smartphones have already been distributed to Anganwadi workers and another 9949 smartphones were distributed on Tuesday, amounting to INR 9.14 crore, he added. An Anganwadi centre should be adopted by every government officer so that there would be a healthy competition among the Anganwadi centres in the State.
Highlighting the achievement of CM’s Health for All scheme, a door-to-door healthcare service mostly for non-communicable diseases, he said so far around 69 villages have been covered. Around 18,683 individuals have been registered and around 17,401 people have been examined at their doorsteps and distributed free medicines.
In his speech, Works minister, Th Biswajit Singh said Health, Education and Social Welfare are the priority sectors of the government.
‘We need to create a sense of responsibility among ourselves towards building a better society, he added. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra ‘ Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas’, the country is marching ahead with ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, a self-reliant India, he added.
On the occasion, the chief minister also launched the ‘Integrated Education Management System’ and digital learning platform for the education sector and e-Asha for the health sector.
Later in a Facebook post, Biren Singh wrote, “Also delighted to make a special announcement that the monthly honorarium of Anganwadi workers will be increased by INR 1000, additional honorarium of INR 500 for Health workers, honorarium of INR 1000 for Ashas and other incentives for Anganwadi workers. And as recognition of their contribution and service during the Covid-19 pandemic, CMHT cards will be issued to all the registered 25,000 Ashas, AWWs and AWHs of Manipur.”
Manipur Chief Minister, Biren Singh on Tuesday directed the officials to identify one horticulture/agriculture produce of each of the 16 districts of the state to enhance production and market it outside the state. He asked them to submit a list within a week.
Biren Singh gave the directive while attending a meeting to transfer a total of INR 125.955 lakh to the bank accounts of 210 farmers of Senapati, Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Chandel districts under two different schemes of Tribal Affairs and Hills department in a simple function at Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
Implementing agency of these two schemes -- Cultivation of High-Tech Banana in Hill Districts and Development and Income Generation through Promotion and Preservation of Indigenous Produce King Chili (U-Morok) -- is Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) of Horticulture and Soil Conservation department.
Speaking at the occasion, Biren Singh stressed the need to work on mission mode for 100 per cent replacement of chemical fertilisers by organic manures. Stating that chemical fertilisers are responsible for many diseases, he expressed his strong desire for speedy expansion of organic cultivation in the state. He also asked the officials and experts to find ways for large scale production of organic manures.
He stated that Manipur should also contribute in realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of making India a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024-25.